Swollen neck!

Our 5-6month old piggie Fawn seems to have a very swollen neck, I noticed this afternoon. She was still running around in her usual loony way and has eaten her dinner fine this evening. Should I be worried?

I'm still new to all this, we've only kept pigs since July so I'm not sure when to really worry/panic! They seem so fragile when things go wrong!

She let me and my husband examine her earlier and although she nibbled to be left alone after a few mins she didn't seem in any distress.

it looks like fat more than an actual lump and it goes all the way round the bottom part of her neck (yes that makes sense!) I don't think it would look like anything if I posted a pic as it just looks as though she has a double chin! It kind of looks to me like she's got swollen glands?

I will obviously book an appointment with the vet tomorrow but by the time I saw it today I couldn't.

Your description sounds like it could be a "dewlap".....a common feature of some piggies which is a bit like a double chin. However she is rather young to have developed this as you normally see it appearing in "more mature" pigs.

I would therefore be inclined to get her checked by a vet as there could be some swollen lymph nodes indicating an infection in which case she may need some antibioitics. It would be a good idea for the vet to give her a through dental exam to check there is no abcess/damage within her mouth and also to check all her lymph nodes to make sure it is not cervical lymphadenitis.

Funnily enough I took a young female to my vet today with just this problem.

Until she gets the all clear, please be careful about putting her with other piggies other than the ones she is aleady with...and also please wash your hands very thoroughly after handling her and before handling any other piggies.

Pebble, when you say more mature piggies, what sort of age would you expect please?

Thanks.

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In my experience, they need to have reached full size/weight (about 1year) and even then I have normally only observed it;s appearance (in both boys and girls) after about
a) 18 months if they are chunky greedy pigs (eg aby's) or
b) later on towards the two year mark if they are lithe smooth-haired pigs!

My Rowan has just reached maturity at 10 months as her weight and size have now stabilised......and within her sudden "dewlap" we can feel several lumps which the vet has said are probably swollen lymph nodes.

Senior Guinea Pig

In my experience, they need to have reached full size/weight (about 1year) and even then I have normally only observed it;s appearance (in both boys and girls) after about a) 18 months if they are chunky greedy pigs (eg aby's) or
b) later on towards the two year mark if they are lithe smooth-haired pigs!

My Rowan has just reached maturity at 10 months as her weight and size have now stabilised......and within her sudden "dewlap" we can feel several lumps which the vet has said are probably swollen lymph nodes.

Forum Donator 2014/15

Thanks for your comments. I will definitely take her to the vet tomorrow, we have had an issue with our local vet before but have been told about Blythwood in Hatch End which we used once in the past. It's a bit of a drive as we live in Wembley but they work with loads of piggies with RSPCA so thankfully that's fine. She doesn't look alarming but I can't believe 'dewlap' could happen to her in an afternoon no matter how old I think if swollen glands means a possible infection I'll be rearranging my day tomorrow!